Permutation locks



5 sheets-sheet 1 Filed'uay 28, 1963 wml l I. hnlyl/ I July 27, 1965 L. R. Moss 3,195,643

PERMUTATIN LOCKS Filed May 28, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 27, 1965 L. R. Moss 9 3,196,643

PERMUTATION Locks A V Filed May 28, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 27, 1965 l.. R. Moss 3,196,643

rERMUTATIoN Loxs Filed May 28, 1965 5 sheets-sheet 4" tt Mays July 27, 1955 L. R. Moss 3,196,643

PERMUTATION LOCKS Filed May 28, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent O 3,1%,643 PERMUTATEUN LOCKS Leslie Robert Moss, London, England, assigner to National Research Development Corporation, London, England Filed May 2S, 1963, Ser. No. 283,766 Claims priority, application Great Britain, May 31, 1%2, 2l'l,998/ 62 12 Claims. (Cl. 70-133) This invention relates to permutation locks for safes and the like having a dial which is rotatable firstly to actuate the tumblers or permutation discs to set .the permutation and secondly to actuate the bolt of the lock and has for its object to modify the construction of such a lock by the introduction of further hazards in manipulating the lock mechanism to enable the bolt thereof to be retracted and to avoid the possibility of forcing the bolt into its retracted position.

According to this -invention the dial of the lock is movable so that it can be connected either to the tumblers or permutation discs or to the bolt actuating means of the lock but cannot be connected simultaneously to both. Preferably the dial has associated therewith a slipping clutch which normally will permit rotation 4of the dial to actuate the tumblers or permutation discs or to operate rthe bolt actuating mechanism when the tumblers or permutation discs are in their correct permutation positions but will slip if undue effort is exerted to retract the bolt when the tumblers o r permutation discs are not in their correct permutation positions. In addition one or more permutation cylinder locks may be associated with the tumblers or permutation discs which serve to prevent actuation of the lock bolt if the same tumblers or permutation discs are not in their correct permutation positions.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings iu which:

FIGURE l is a vertical section of one form of lock on the line l--L FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line II-II, FIGURE l,

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional elevation taken on the line IIl-IIL FIGURE l,

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view taken on the line IX-IV, FIGURE 2 and FlGURE 5 is a front elevation, with the lock casing in section, of a modified form of lock.

In the form of lock shown in FIGURES l to 4, there is provided a circular dial 1 with graduation marks, suitably identied by numbers or letters, on its face adjacent to its perimeter, which dial is normally located in a recess 2 in a dial plate 3 suitably secured to the exterior of a door and is capable of rotary and axial movement. The dial plate 3 bears a datum mark associated with the graduation marks on the dial. Secured to the rear of the dial and extending axially therefrom is a spindle 4 which is screw-threaded and has a longitudinal slot or keyway 5. This spindle extends through the door and into the lock case and on the part thereof located in the lock case there is secured a drive wheel unit which is disposed-so that normally a bolt actuating means can be located between the drive wheel and the adjacent back plate 6a of the lock case, i.e. that plate of the lock case which rests against the door.

The drive wheel consists of a tubular or cylindrical member 7 which is internally screw-threaded to receive the screw-threaded spindle 4 extending axially from the dial. a longitudinal keyway 8 and is secured to the spindle by a key 9 engaging both keyways 5 and 8. The end of the tubular member 7 nearest the back plate 6a is provided with an annular flange lt that is encircled by an outer ring 11, the flange and ring being retained against relative axial This tubular member is provided interiorly with ice displacement by annular plates 12 that engage opposite faces of the flange and the outer ring and are secured to the flange so that they rotate therewith. Radial recesses 13 are provided in the llange to house balls 14 pressed by springs 15 to engage frictionally the outer ring 11. Preferably, as shown, the tubular member 7 extends a short distance beyond the ilange and the outer part of the outer ring is stepped, i.e. is of increased thickness, whereby the annular plates can be located in recesses formed in part by the flange and in part by the cuter ring. The annular plate remote from the door is provided with a stud 16 directed away from the door whereby, on rotation of the drive wheel when in its retracted position, the stud 16 can connect the drive wheel to circular tumblers or permutation discs located in axial alignment with the drive wheel. The outer ring 11 of the drive wheel is provided on its outer periphery with teeth 17 adapted to engage a bolt actuating means consisting of a rack 18 formed on one leg of a substantially U-shaped extension 19a of a door bolt 19 when the dial and drive wheel are moved axially outward against the action of a spring 20, away from the circular tumblers or permutation discs. The inner face of the outer ring 11 is provided with tine eeth or serrations 21 with which engage the spring pressed balls 14 carried by the flange of the drive wheel. Such balls and serrations form a slipping clutch which will enable normal actuation of the bolt but will fail to transmit rotary movement exerted upon the dial `such as would be exerted to force the door bolt to a retracted position. The door bolt actuatingmeans also includes a lip or ridge 22 adjacent and parall-el to the rack which, permits the drive wheel to be drawn forward into engagement with the rack when the bolt is fully shot. If the drive wheel is then rotated to move the bolt the lip or ridge 22 engages behind the drive Wheel to prevent it being retracted by its `spring Ztl out of engagement with the rack 18 during movement of the bolt to and from its retracted position.

Extending forwardly from a plate 6b of the lock case or on a plate removably secured thereto, is a tubular mounting post '23 with a longitudinal slot 24 therein which normally houses a bar 25 that normally rests against the cylindrical or tubular member 7, the purposes of which bar will be referred to hereinafter. 'Ihis mounting post is in axial alignment with the spindle 4 and the drive wheel tubular member 7 which extends into the mounting post that serves as a bearing therefor. Circular tumblers or permutation discs 26, 27 and 28 are rotatably mounted on the mounting post 23 and are suitably retained thereon, e.g. by a spring clip 29 engaging a circular groove at the forward or free end of the mounting post. Distance washers 30 are arranged between adjacent tumblers and are anchored against rotation by engagement of inwardly directed teeth therein with a longitudinal groove 56 in the mounting post, said distance washers preventing the rotary movement of one tumbler being transmitted by friction to adjacent tumblers.

Each of the tumblers or permutation discs 26, 27 and 28 consists of a central part or hub 31 having a central bore to engage the mounting post 23 upon which the hub can rotate. An outer ring 32 encircles the hub and is provided with a series of graduation marks to facilitate adjustment of the outer ring about the hub if a change of permutation is required and has formed on its inner annular face serrations or teeth 33 with which normally engage similar serrations or teeth carried by a slidable locking member 34 located in a radial slot 35 in the hub. The engagement of such serrations or teeth prevent rotation of the outer ring upon the hub. Relative axial movement of the hub and outer ring is prevented by two annular plates 36, 37 riveted or otherwise secured one on each of the opposed annular faces of the hub and overlapping the outer ring 32 to engage against a stepped part of such ring. Of these plates the plate 36 located nearest to the drive wheel has formed about its perimeter an upstanding ridge 38 whose continuity is broken by a gap or break therein, for example of about one eighth of the perimeter. The other plate 3'7 has formed thereon a stud 39 directed away from the drive wheel, which stud engages the gap in the ridge of theadjacent tumbler or permutation disc. Rotary movement imparted to the tumblers or permutation discs is transmitted from the drive wheel through its stud 16 which drives the tumbler or permutation disc 2S nearest thereto through the intermediary of a lug itl on a rotary drive washer or disc 4l interposed between the drive wheel and the tumbler or permutation disc 28 adjacent thereto. Movement is transmitted from the tumbler 28 to the tumbler 27 and from this tumbler to the tumbler 26.

The outer ring of each tumbler or permutation disc has formed around its periphery an annular cam surface of undulating form. With each tumbler or permutation disc there are associated two follower pins 43 that engage the cam surface on the outer ring thereof and slide upon its undulating face. These follower pins engage slidable pins 44 in radial slots 42S in rotatable barrels 46 of cylinder locks 47, which slidable pins 44 are pressed outwardly by springs 48. The rotatable barrels 46 extend beyond the casings of the cylinder locks and have secured thereto radial arms 49 from which project pins 5t) that extend towards the back plate 6a of the lock casing. The pins t) engage vertical slots 51 in the U-shaped extension 19a of the bolt 19. When the tumblers or permutation discs are correctly located in accordance with the door lock permutation,Y the outer ends of the slidable pins are in register with 4the cylindrical faces of the barrels which can then be rotated to permit the door bolt to be moved into its shot or retracted position.

If desired each of the hubs 31 may also be provided with a radial bore 52 in which is housed a sliding member 53 and a spring 54 which urges the said member 53 outwardly into engagement with the serrations 33 in the outer ring 32. Upon relative rotational movement between a hub 31 and its outer ring 32, the sound produced by the sliding member 53 passing over the serrations will serve as an audible change indicator.

In operation, when the door bolt is in Yits shot or operative position and the dial is connected to the series of Itumblers or permutation discs employed, rotation of the dial enables each of the tumblers or permutation discs, in turn, to be brought into the requisite position according to the permutation in use. By this means the outer ends of the slidable pins 44 are brought into correspondence with the cylindrical surface of the barrel 46 which can be rotated when the door lock bolt is retracted by turning the dial after it has been set for such operation. Such setting is effected by moving the dial, its spindle and the drive wheel axially, against the action of the spring 20, to bring the teeth 17 of the outer ring 1l of the drive wheel into engagement with the rack l on the bolt extension 19a.

lf change of the permutation is required the plate 6b of the lock casing, on which are carried the tubular mounting post and the tumblers carried thereon, and the rotatable barrels, is removed whereupon' the bar 2S which is normally housed in the longitudinal slot 24 in the Amounting post is moved towards the axis of the mounting post. On subsequent rotation of the tumblers or permutation disc their slidable locking members 34, when they come into register with the longitudinal slot 24 in the mounting post, will engage said slot under the influence of springs 55 acting upon them. The central part or hub of the tumblers or permutation discs are thus locked to the mounting post and disconnected from their outer rings which can then be freely rotated relative to their central parts or hubs to change the permutation. Upon restoring the bar Vto its normal position in the longitudinal slot the slidable locking members are moved radially outwards to lock together the central parts or hubs and the outer rings ofthe tumblers of permutation disc.

A modified form of lock bolt actuating means is shown in FGURE 5, it being understood that the manner of manipulating the permutation discs or tumblers and setting the cylindrical barrel locks is the same as described in connection with the lock mechanism described and illustrated in FlGURES 1 to 4. As shown in FIGURE 5 a lock bolt 63 has an extension 61 of substantially U-shaped form, the outer edges of the parallel limbs of such extension having series of teeth 62 formed thereon. These sets of teeth engage respectively with pinions 63 secured upon ends of rotatable barrels 64 of cylindrical barrel locks 65. One of the arms of the U-shaped extension also has formed, on its inner edge, a rack 66 with which the teeth 17 of a drive wheel can be brought into engagement to actuate the bolt.

Obviously the lock can be simplified by employing fewer tumblers or permutation discs and/or by using only one rotatable barrel in consequence of which one follower pin will be associated with each tumbler or permutation disc.

The components of the lock may be made of any suitable material and certain parts may consist of low density material to resist attack by radiography.

I claim:

l. A permutation lock comprising a holt, bolt actuating means, at least one cylinder lock for retaining the bolt in its fully shot position, at least one permutation disc for controlling the cylinder locks, a rotary and axially movable dial, and a drive wheel movable with said dial, said drive wheel being movable into a position to operate the permutation discs only and into a position to operate the bolt actuating means only.

2. A permutation lock comprising a bolt, a bolt actuating means, at least one cylinder lock including a rotary barrel and axially slidable pinslocated radially of said barrel, at least one permutation disc for controlling the cylinder locks, a rotary and axially movable dial and a drive wheel movable with said dial, said drive wheel being movable into a position to operate the permutation discs only and into a position to operate the bolt actuating means only.

3. A permutation lock as claimed in claim 2, including a cam associated with each permutation disc to control the position of a sliding pin in each cylinder lock.

4. A permutation lock as claimed in claim 2, including a cam associated with each permutation disc and forming a iigure of revolution of undulating form for controlling the position of a sliding pin in each cylinder lock.

5. A permutation lock as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bolt actuating means comprises a substantially U- shaped extension of the bolt and a rack carried on one limb of said U-shaped extension for engagement by the drive wheel.

6. A permutation lock as claimed in claim 2, including an arm secured on the rotary barrel of each cylinder lock, and a pin on said arm engaging a slot formed in the bolt actuating means. f

7. A permutation lock as claimed in claim 2, including a pinion secured on the rotary barrel of each cylinder lock, and a series of teeth on said bolt actuating means with which said pinion engages.

S. A permutation lock comprising a bolt, a bolt actuating means, at least one cylinder lock for restraining movement of the bolt, at least one permutation disc for controlling the cylinder locks, a rotary and axially movable dial and a drive wheel movable with said dial and having two operative positions where it alternatively operates the permutation discs and the bolt actuating means.

9. A permutation lock as claimed in claim 8, including a slipping clutch through which rotary movement of the dial is transmitted.

it). A permutation lock as claimed in claim 8, Wherein the bolt actuating means carries a lip which maintains engagement of the drive Wheel and the bolt actuating means during movement of the lock bolt.

11. A permutation lock as claimed in claim 3, wherein each permutation disc comprises a hub, a slidable locking member carried by said hub, rotatable outer ring normally held locked upon said hub by the locking member, and a spring urging the locking member away from the outer ring.

12. A permutation lock as claimed in claim 8, having a removable unit including a plate, a tubular mounting post having a longitudinal slot therein carried by said plate, a bar normally housed in said longitudinal slot, and at least one permutation disc carried by said mounting post and comprising a hub, an outer ring and a locking means for connecting said hub and outer ring, removal of said unit from the lock permitting inward movement of the bar to permit the locking means to engage the longitudinal slot thereby disengaging 4the hub and the outer ring of said permutation disc and locking the said hub to the mounting post.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 61,810 2/67 Corbett 70-133 73,831 l/68 Pillard 70-133 75,967 3/68 Pillard 70-133 2,621,509 12/52 Hage 70-311 X 15 ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner. 

2. A PERMUTATION OOCK COMPRISING A BOLT, A BOLT ACTUATING MEANS, AT LEAST ONE CYLINDER LOCK INCLUDING A ROTARY BARREL AND AXIALLY SLIDABLE PINS LOCATED RADIALLY OF SAID BARREL, AT LEAST ONE PERMUTATION DISC FOR CONTROLLING THE CYLINDER LOCKS, A ROTARY AND AXIALLY MOVABLE DIAL AND A DRIVE WHEEL MOVABLE WITH SAID DIAL, SAID DRIVE WHEEL BEING MOVABLE INTO A POSITION TO OPERATE THE PERMUTATION DISCS ONLY AND INTO A POSITION TO OPERATE THE BOLT ACTUATING MEANS ONLY. 